November 8, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. It was chump change as far as the drug business goes. Just another link in the drug trade food chain. The Halton Regional Police, Burlington-3 District Strategic Support Team, executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residence on Prospect Street.
These search warrants are obtained from a Justice of the Peace who reads an affidavit the police have prepared explaining why they believe they should be given the right to enter an property and search for whatever they have convinced the Justice of the Peace is there.
Every police force has a couple of JP’s (Justices of the Peace) they can always call upon to get the warrant they need. This particular warrant was the result of a short drug investigation and the arrest of persons that had purchased drugs from the accused. The police arrested someone in possession of drugs, squeezed him (or her) a bi and got the name of the dealer. A bit of observation and bingo – there is enough evidence to swear that affidavit which the JP buys into and the warrant is issued and the search takes place
All this happened on November 7, 2013. Seized as a result of the warrant and subsequent arrests was;
798 grams of marihuana (approximately 28.5 ounces or 1.78 pounds )
7 grams of Psilocybin (approx 1/4 Ounce),
67 grams (over a 2 ounces) of Cocaine,
128 grams of Cannabis resin (commonly known as hash oil),
$1325.00 in cash.
Tools of the trade: scale to measure out the purchase and cell phones to keep in touch with the client list.
A digital scale, a couple of cellular phones (customer list on at least one of those – will that list lead to additional arrests?) and packaging material. They make it sound as if this guy gift wrapped what he was selling. This was almost a small drug pharmacy for those whose needs could be met in the middle of the night.
The accused, Ryan HORECHKA-23 years of Burlington, was located inside the premise and was subsequently arrested.
HORECHKA was charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance and four counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and released on a Promise to Appear with certain drug conditions. He is to appear in Milton Court on December 3, 2013.
Another small operator who was given up by a client. It should be interesting when those two are in the same court room with one testifying against the other.
If you wonder why the police go to all this bother and why so much tax money is spent on court cases – pause and think about the mess the city of Toronto is in. Rob Ford got his drugs from dealers who put envelopes in his vehicle or met him in dark places.
The police have never managed to get all the drugs off the street – there is just far too much money in that business for it to ever be eradicated. And there are too many of us who want access to the stuff.
Are some drugs basically the same as alcohol? Do we want drugs sold over the counter just the way Scotch and Rum are now sold? Picking up a bottle of fine 15-year-old single malt is one of the pleasures of life – at least for me it is. Am I going to be able to at some point drive to the equivalent of an LCBO and by my prime, smartly packaged marijuana? Justin Trudeau thinks we should be able to do that – heck we’re already buying the stuff from people who meet in dark corners and don’t want you to know where they live.
The stuff never worked for me. I’m happy to enjoy a glass of good wine or better yet a can of really good Belgian beer with a wedge of Stilton cheese and some crisp English crackers. But we each have our favourites – don’t we?
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
